LEGISLATIVE LESSONS: It can be dull. And...

LEGISLATIVE LESSONS: It can be dull. And dreary. And it’s the way laws are often made. . . . The Los Angeles City Council relies on its committee system to study, refine, advance or kill legislative proposals. Every council member serves on three committees--which range from Public Safety to Rules and Elections--and three of the most influential are headed by San Fernando Valley lawmakers. Valley Briefing offers a breakdown on committee assignments (B3).

NEW ASSESSMENT: So what’s a city worth? If it’s Burbank, about $8.165 billion. That’s the value of all property in the city, according to statistics recently released by the Los Angeles County assessor’s office. . . . It’s the highest total for any city in the San Fernando Valley area--except, of course, Los Angeles--and up about 3.12% over last year. The county’s overall growth rate was 2.1%, the lowest in 20 years.

SMOKERS’ HAVEN: Banished from most indoor public places, smokers are now forced to huddle in tiny corners or air-tight, sanitized rooms to light up. . .except in the Northridge Fashion Center mall (B1). There, a light-filled corner with comfortable benches and potted plants has been set aside for smokers to puff away without feeling like pariahs.

POINTLESS TO ARGUE: Jeff Feinblatt, Dean Jacobberger and Wes Waldron have made up their minds. They’re going to Penn State this fall, to get a college education and to bring an NCAA fencing championship to the school (C10) . . . And the idea is not that far-fetched. The three 18-year-olds have collected more than 300 medals in foil and epee, and have led Chaminade High, a school that didn’t even have a program four years ago, to two national titles.